Hair iron

ABSTRACT

Provided is a hair iron including a lower case including a lower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heater, and an upper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to the lower case. The upper and lower heating plates are coated with a mixed layer in which one of Teflon coating material, anodizing coating material, and ceramic coating material, and an iron removing member attracting and removing iron attached to the hair are mixed in an equal ratio.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a hair iron, and more particularly, toa hair iron heating upper and lower heating plates through upper andlower heaters according to supplying of power to style hair through aholding operation of the heated upper and lower heating plates, in whichthe upper and lower heating plates include iron removing members toattract and remove a foreign substance such as iron attached to hair,thus preventing the damage of hair due to a foreign substance andachieving efficient hair styling, so as to satisfy customers or users.

Generally, hair irons are used in hairdressers' shops such as beautysalons and barbershops to heat hair for hairdressing such as waving,straightening, and curling. Such hair irons have been developed invarious shapes.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron in the relatedart. Referring to FIG. 1, an upper case 5 and a lower case I are hingedto each other, and the lower case 1 includes a lower grill part 2handled by a hand, and a lower heating part 3 in a single body throughinjection molding. The lower heating part 3 includes a built-in lowerheater (not shown).

The front end of the lower case 1 is provided with a lower heating plate4 that is moved according to the amount of hair and in surface contactwith the hair to heat the hair. The upper case 5 is coupled with thelower case 1, and includes an upper grill part 6 and an upper heatingpart 7 in a single body through injection molding. The upper heatingpart 7 includes a built-in upper heater (not shown). The front end ofthe upper case 5 is provided with an upper heating plate 8 that is movedaccording to the amount of hair and in surface contact with the hair toheat the hair.

The upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4 may have various shapes suchas a flat plate shape, a triangular shape, a circular shape, asemi-circular shape, and a combination thereof or have an essentiallyπ-shaped cross-section. Hair is styled using the hair iron by insertinga power plug connected to a power wire into a plug receptacle, and then,by heating the upper and lower heaters by the upper and lower heatingplates 8 and 4, and simultaneously, by sliding the upper and lowerheating plates 8 and 4 on the hair in the state where the hair is heldby the upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4, and, by applying heatgenerated from the upper and lower heaters to the hair.

The upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4 typically include rectangularheating parts, and the upper and lower heating plates 8 and 4 arefabricated by extruding aluminum (Al) or jade, and then, by coating themwith material such as Teflon coating material, anodizing coatingmaterial, and ceramic coating material. In this case, while the hairiron is used, foreign substances such as various heavy metals attachedfrom air to the hair iron are not removed. Rather, the hair iron bringsthe foreign substances in closer contact with the hair, thus damagingthe hair.

On the other hand, various hair irons has been developed for heath.Especially, a hair iron with magnets is disclosed in US patentpublication No. 2006/0207625. According to the US patent publication,the magnets are disposed on corresponding styling heads so that themagnetic polarity of the magnetic field appearing on the pair ofcorresponding contact styling surfaces are the same, the styling effectsare better. Also, to further make use of the advantage of magnetism onhuman boy, a negative magnetism or negative magnetic polarity as knownto therapeutic applications is employed to appear on the contact stylingsurface. Because of like magnetic polarity on the contact stylingsurface, the pair of styling heads is repulsive to each other. However,in the US patent publication, the magnets are not used to remove aforeign substance from hair, but just used to implement well-knowntherapeutic effects with the repulsion caused by the same magneticpolarity.

Especially, when a foreign substance such as iron is attached to hair,the foreign substance reacts with permanent wave liquid or dye. Thismakes it difficult to perform desired hairdressing and satisfy customersor users.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a hair iron that includes upper and lower heatingplates having iron removing members to attract and move a foreignsubstance such as iron attached to hair, thus preventing the damage ofthe hair due to the foreign substance.

Embodiments also provide a hair iron that removes iron attached to hairto prevent a chemical reaction of the iron with permanent wave liquid ordye, thus achieving efficient hair styling and satisfying customers orusers.

In one embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including a lowergrill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lowerheating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating partincluding a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an uppergrill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upperheating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating partincluding a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to thelower case, wherein the upper and lower heating plates are coated with amixed layer in which one of Teflon coating material, anodizing coatingmaterial, and ceramic coating material, and an iron removing memberattracting and removing iron attached to the hair are mixed in an equalratio.

In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including alower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lowerheating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating partincluding a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an uppergrill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upperheating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating partincluding a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to thelower case, wherein one or more iron removing members are attached tothe upper and lower heating plates along a longitudinal direction of theupper and lower heating plates to attract and remove iron attached tothe hair.

In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including alower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lowerheating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating partincluding a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an uppergrill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upperheating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating partincluding a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to thelower case, wherein one or more electro magnets are attached to theupper and lower heating plates along a longitudinal direction of theupper and lower heating plates, and are magnetized to attract and removeiron attached to the hair, and the magnetizing of the electro magnets islinked with driving of the upper and lower heaters.

In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including alower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lowerheating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating partincluding a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an uppergrill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upperheating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating partincluding a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to thelower case, wherein magnets are attached to both sides of the upper andlower heating plates to attract and remove iron attached to the hair.

In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including alower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lowerheating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating partincluding a built-in lower heater; and an upper case including an uppergrill part and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upperheating plate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating partincluding a built-in upper heater, the upper case being hinged to thelower case, wherein the upper and lower heating plates each is providedin plurality, and magnets are attached between the upper heating platesand between the lower heating plates to attract and remove iron attachedto the hair.

In another embodiment, a hair iron includes: a lower case including alower grill part and a lower heating part in a single body, and a lowerheating plate at a front end to heat hair, the lower heating partincluding a built-in lower heater to heat the lower heating plate; anupper case including an upper grill part and an upper heating part in asingle body, and an upper heating plate at a front end to heat the hair,the upper heating part including a built-in upper heater to heat theupper heating plate, the upper case being hinged to the lower case; anda plurality of means for attracting foreign substances which areresidual on the hair, being formed in a vicinity of the lower and upperheating plates between which the hair treatment is carried out. Theattracting means includes a plurality of circular magnetic rods and thecircular magnetic rods are inserted into grooves that are formed atopposite side of an even surface of each of the upper and lower heatingplates.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron in the relatedart.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a schematic view including a plan view and a partialcross-sectional view, which illustrates a lower heating plate of thehair iron of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3B and 3C are partial cross-sectional views illustrating mannersin which a magnet is attached to a lower heating plate of the hair ironof FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state whereelectro magnets are attached to a lower heating plate of the hair ironof FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where magnets areattached to both sides of a lower heating plate of a hair iron accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a state where a magnet is attachedbetween a plurality of lower heating plates of a hair iron according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a heating plate with magnetswhich are inserted into grooves according to still another embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described belowin more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The presentinvention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not beconstructed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thoroughand complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present inventionto those skilled in the art.

First Embodiment

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a schematic viewincluding a plan view and a partial cross-sectional view, whichillustrates a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 2A. Referringto FIGS. 2A and 2B, the hair iron according to the current embodimentincludes a lower case 10 and an upper case 20 hinged to the lower case10.

The lower case 10 includes a lower grill part 12 and a lower heatingpart 14 in a single body. The lower heating part 14 includes a built-inlower heater (not shown). A lower heating plate 16 is disposed at thefront end of the lower case 10 to heat hair.

The upper case 20 includes an upper grill part 22 and an upper heatingpart 24 in a single body. The upper heating part 24 includes a built-inupper heater (not shown). An upper heating plate 26 is disposed at thefront end of the upper case 10 to heat hair.

Surfaces of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 are coated witha mixed layer 70 that is formed by mixing one of Teflon coatingmaterial, anodizing coating material, and ceramic coating material, andan iron removing member. The iron removing member is formed of amagnetic substance attracting and removing iron attached to hair.

A mixing ratio of the coating material to the magnetic substance may bean equal ratio, that is, 50:50. If the mixed amount of the magneticsubstance is less than the mixed amount of the coating material, ironattracting performance may be degraded. If the mixed amount of themagnetic substance is greater than the mixed amount of the coatingmaterial, coating performance may be degraded.

In the hair iron configured as described above, the surfaces of theupper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 are coated with the mixed layer70 of the coating material and the magnetic substance. Thus, when thehair iron is used, and the upper and lower heaters heat the upper andlower heating plates 26 and 16 according to supplying of power to holdand style hair, the magnetic substance attracts iron attached to thehair. After the hair iron is used, the attracted iron is removed fromthe upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. Accordingly, the damage ofhair due to iron can be prevented, and treating of hair can befacilitated.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according toanother embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3B and 3C are partialcross-sectional views illustrating manners in which a magnet is attachedto a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 3A. Referring to FIGS.3A, 3B and 3C, the hair iron according to the current embodimentincludes the lower and upper cases 10 and 20 of the previous embodiment.The lower case 10 includes the lower grill part 12, the lower heatingpart 14 including the built-in lower heater (not shown), and the lowerheating plate 16. The upper case 20 includes the upper grill part 22,the upper heating part 24 including the built-in upper heater (notshown), and the upper heating plate 26.

Iron removing members including magnets 30 are attached to the upper andlower heating plates 26 and 16. The magnets 30 are arrayed along thelongitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16to attract iron attached to hair and remove it. In the currentembodiment, the number of the magnets 30 to each of the upper and lowerheating plates 26 and 16 is three, and the magnets 30 are spaced thesame distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of theupper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. However, the present inventionis not limited thereto, and thus, the number of the magnets 30 may beone or greater.

In the current embodiment, the magnets 30 are formed through molding orextrusion. The magnets 30 may be inserted into insertion recesses (notshown) formed in the upper heating plate 26 and the lower heating plate16, or be adhered through an adhesive 32 to the surfaces of the upperand lower heating plate 26 and 16.

The magnets 30 are permanent magnets such as neodium, and may have astrength of about 10000 gauss or greater, and preferably, have astrength of about 15000 gauss or greater. The magnets 30 may be wrappedwith a silicon rubber packing formed of heat resistant rubber to preventexposure to intense heat or the decrease in magnetic force, which is thesame as that of magnets 40 and 50 to be described in the followingembodiments.

In the hair iron configured as described above, one or more magnets 30are attached to the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 along thelongitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16.Thus, when the hair iron is used, and the upper and lower heaters heatthe upper and lower heat plates 26 and 16 to hold and style hair, themagnets 30 attract iron attached to the hair. After the hair iron isused, the attracted iron is removed from the upper and lower heatingplates 26 and 16.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a hair iron according toanother embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a partialcross-sectional view illustrating a state where electro magnets areattached to a lower heating plate of the hair iron of FIG. 4A. Referringto FIGS. 4A and 4B, the hair iron according to the current embodimentincludes the lower and upper cases 10 and 20 of the first embodiment.

Electro magnets 60 are attached to the upper and lower heating plates 26and 16 along the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heatingplates 26 and 16. The electro magnets 60 are magnetized to attract andremove iron attached to hair. The magnetizing of the electro magnets 60is linked to the driving of the upper and lower heaters.

In the current embodiment, the number of the electro magnets 60 to thelower heating plate 16 is two, and the electro magnets 60 are spaced thesame distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of theupper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. However, the present inventionis not limited thereto, and thus, the number of the electro magnets 60may be one or greater.

In the hair iron configured as described above, one or more electromagnets 60 are attached to the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16along the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower heating plates26 and 16. Thus, when the hair iron is used, and the upper and lowerheaters heat the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 to hold andstyle hair, the electro magnets 60, connected to the lower heater andreceiving power, attract iron attached to the hair. After the hair ironis used, the attracted iron is removed from the upper and lower heatingplates 26 and 16.

Forth Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where magnets areattached to both sides of a lower heating plate of a hair iron accordingto another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, thehair iron according to the current embodiment includes the lower andupper cases 10 and 20 of the first embodiment.

The magnets 40 are attached to both sides of each of the upper and lowerheating plates 26 and 16 between the upper and lower heating plates 26and 16 to attract and remove iron attached to hair.

The magnets 40 may be inserted in insertion recesses formed in the upperand lower heating plates 26 and 16, or be formed through insertinjection molding.

In the hair iron configured as described above, the magnets 40 areattached to both sides of each of the upper and lower heating plates 26and 16 between the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16. Thus, whenthe hair iron is used, and the upper and lower heaters heat the upperand lower heating plates 26 and 16 to hold and vary hair, the magnets 40attract iron attached to the hair. After the hair iron is used, theattracted iron is removed from the upper and lower heating plates 26 and16.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a state where a magnet is attachedbetween a plurality of lower heating plates of a hair iron according toanother embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, thehair iron according to the current embodiment includes the lower andupper cases 10 and 20 of the first embodiment.

The upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 each is provided induplicate, and the magnets 50 are attached between the upper heatingplates 26 and between the lower heating plates 16 to attract and removeiron attached to hair. The magnets 50 may be inserted in insertionrecesses formed in the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16, or beformed through insert injection molding, like in the forth embodiment.

In the hair iron configured as described above, the magnets 50 areattached between the upper heating plates 26 and between the lowerheating plates 16. Thus, when the hair iron is used, and the upper andlower heaters heat the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 to holdand vary hair, the magnets 50 attract iron attached to the hair. Afterthe hair iron is used, the attracted iron is removed from the upper andlower heating plates 26 and 16.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a heating plate in whichmagnets are inserted into both sides thereof according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. Being different from the abovementioned embodiments, in the current embodiment, the magnets,preferably Sm-based magnets or SmCo-based magnets, are inserted into,but not limited to, both sides of each of the upper and lower heatingplates 26 and 16. Tow circular grooves 70 are formed at both sides ofeach of the upper and lower heating plates 26 and 16 and circular rods71 are inserted into them. In this embodiment, the magnets are installedat opposite side of an even surface of each of the upper and lowerheating plates 26 and 16 such that any damage is not caused on thesurfaces of the heating plates. Furthermore, the length of the rode 71can be adjusted based on the desired strength of the magnetic field.

According to the embodiments, the upper and lower heating plates includethe iron removing members to attract and remove foreign substances suchas iron attached to hair, thus preventing the damage of hair due toforeign substances.

Since iron is removed from hair, the chemical reaction of the iron withpermanent wave liquid or dye can be prevented to achieve efficient hairvariations, thus satisfying customers or users. Since a magnetic fieldpushes hair's moisture, hair dye can be achieved fast and curling andstraight of hair can be achieved effectively. Moreover, since themagnets are positioned nearby hair and head, the circulation of theblood is also promoted.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the magnets can beformed in the heating plates selectively. That is, the magnets can beformed in both sides of the upper or lower heating plate or in one sideof the heating plate.

1. A hair iron to remove foreign substances and moisture from haircomprising: a lower case including a lower grill part and a lowerheating part in a single body, and a lower heating plate at a front endto heat hair, the lower heating part including a built-in lower heaterto heat the lower heating plate; an upper case including an upper grillpart and an upper heating part in a single body, and an upper heatingplate at a front end to heat the hair, the upper heating part includinga built-in upper heater to heat the upper heating plate, the upper casebeing hinged to the lower case; and a means for attracting the foreignsubstances which are residual on the hair, being formed in a vicinity ofthe lower and upper heating plates between which the hair treatment iscarried out.
 2. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the attracting meansincludes a mixed layer in which one of Teflon coating material,anodizing coating material, and ceramic coating material, and an ironremoving member attracting and removing iron attached to the hair aremixed in an equal ratio.
 3. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein theattracting means includes a plurality of magnets which are separatedfrom each other.
 4. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the magnets areSm-based magnets or SmCo-based magnets.
 5. The hair iron of claim 2,wherein the iron removing member is a magnetic substance and wherein themixed layer is formed on the lower or upper heating plate.
 6. The hairiron of claim 3, wherein the magnets are disposed in recesses which areformed on the lower or upper heating plate.
 7. The hair iron of claim 3,wherein the magnets are attached to a surface of the lower or upperheating plate by an adhesive.
 8. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein theattracting means includes an electro magnet and wherein the electromagnet is magnetized when the upper and lower heaters are driven.
 9. Thehair iron of claim 1, wherein the attracting means includes a pluralityof magnets which are formed at both sides of the lower or upper heatingplate.
 10. The hair iron of claim 1, wherein the attracting meansincludes a plurality of circular magnetic rods and wherein the circularmagnetic rods are inserted into grooves that are formed at opposite sideof an even surface of the upper or lower heating plate.
 11. The hairiron of claim 9, wherein the magnets is formed in a longitudinaldirection of the lower and upper heating plates.
 12. The hair iron ofclaim 5, wherein the lower or upper heating plate includes a pluralityof heating elements which are spaced apart from each other and whereinthe magnets are disposed between the heating elements.